Paterson cracks down on McDonald's restaurant that keeps its bathroom closed

By JOE MALINCONICO

Paterson Press

PATERSON – City health officials say they have issued eight violations against a busy McDonald’s restaurant in downtown Paterson for not having a toilet available to the public.

Paterson Press staff photo

McDonald’s restaurant in downtown Paterson.

The city’s health and human services director, Donna Nelson-Ivy, said the manager of the Market Street restaurant told her that the bathroom was shut down because addicts were using it to shoot drugs and homeless people were bathing in the sink.

“I suggested they have their staff monitor it,” said Nelson-Ivy.

City law requires any restaurants with more than 10 seats to provide toilets for public usage.

Municipal health inspectors wrote the first summons several weeks ago and have gone back issued seven additional violations since then, officials said.

“They’re refusing to open the bathroom,” said Nelson-Ivy. “This is unacceptable.”

A sign saying the McDonald’s bathroom was closed remained in place on Tuesday afternoon. A woman who identified herself as the manager said the bathroom was out of order. When asked about the city’s summonses, the woman said, “I don’t know about that, sir.” She refused to give her name. Paterson Press on Tuesday left a message for the restaurant’s owner, but he has not responded.

The McDonald is located in the heart of Paterson’s downtown business district, diagonally across from City Hall. It is common for panhandlers to stand outside the entrance. Several customers interviewed on Tuesday seemed not to mind the bathroom situation.

“I didn’t even know it was closed,” said Daisy Cruz of Paterson, who said she often gets something to eat at that McDonald’s while shopping downtown. “Maybe it will keep some of the homeless out of here.”

“It’s not a problem for me,” said Manuel Valverde, a Newark resident who said he dines at the Market Street McDonald’s about once a week. “I’m here no more than an hour. I don’t need to use the bathroom.”

Valverde said he often has seen people come inside the restaurant without getting any food. “They just want the bathroom services,” he said.

But Paterson’s municipal code makes no distinction between customers and the general public when it comes to bathroom availability at restaurants.

Nelson-Ivy, who is running for mayor, said she heard about the bathroom being closed after getting a complaint. In late February, she said she walked over to the restaurant. At first, an employee told her the bathroom was out of order.

But then she asked to see the inside. “There was nothing wrong with it,” Nelson-Ivy said. That was when the manager talked of the problems with drug users and homeless people.

Under the city code, each violation for not having an open bathroom comes with a maximum $1,000 fine. The matter is scheduled for municipal court on April 4, Nelson-Ivy said.

Paterson cracks down on McDonald's restaurant that keeps its bathroom closed

PATERSON – City health officials say they have issued eight violations against a busy McDonald’s restaurant in downtown Paterson for not having a toilet available to the public.

The city’s health and human services director, Donna Nelson-Ivy, said the manager of the Market Street restaurant told her that the bathroom was shut down because addicts were using it to shoot drugs and homeless people were bathing in the sink.

“I suggested they have their staff monitor it,” said Nelson-Ivy.

City law requires any restaurants with more than 10 seats to provide toilets for public usage.

Municipal health inspectors wrote the first summons several weeks ago and have gone back issued seven additional violations since then, officials said.

“They’re refusing to open the bathroom,” said Nelson-Ivy. “This is unacceptable.”

A sign saying the McDonald’s bathroom was closed remained in place on Tuesday afternoon. A woman who identified herself as the manager said the bathroom was out of order. When asked about the city’s summonses, the woman said, “I don’t know about that, sir.” She refused to give her name. Paterson Press on Tuesday left a message for the restaurant’s owner, but he has not responded.

The McDonald is located in the heart of Paterson’s downtown business district, diagonally across from City Hall. It is common for panhandlers to stand outside the entrance. Several customers interviewed on Tuesday seemed not to mind the bathroom situation.

“I didn’t even know it was closed,” said Daisy Cruz of Paterson, who said she often gets something to eat at that McDonald’s while shopping downtown. “Maybe it will keep some of the homeless out of here.”

“It’s not a problem for me,” said Manuel Valverde, a Newark resident who said he dines at the Market Street McDonald’s about once a week. “I’m here no more than an hour. I don’t need to use the bathroom.”

Valverde said he often has seen people come inside the restaurant without getting any food. “They just want the bathroom services,” he said.

But Paterson’s municipal code makes no distinction between customers and the general public when it comes to bathroom availability at restaurants.

Nelson-Ivy, who is running for mayor, said she heard about the bathroom being closed after getting a complaint. In late February, she said she walked over to the restaurant. At first, an employee told her the bathroom was out of order.

But then she asked to see the inside. “There was nothing wrong with it,” Nelson-Ivy said. That was when the manager talked of the problems with drug users and homeless people.

Under the city code, each violation for not having an open bathroom comes with a maximum $1,000 fine. The matter is scheduled for municipal court on April 4, Nelson-Ivy said.